Good Samaritan raises enough cash to send man sleeping rough in Dalston back to native Jamaica in just one day

A Good Samaritan has raised the money to send a homeless man back to his home in Jamaica after making an online appeal for help.

Jenny Baker, from Rotherhithe, met the 64-year-old man, who she only knows as Michael, in Dalston on Saturday night and offered him some money.

But when he asked instead for a ginger beer, the pair began chatting and he revealed his main ambition was to return back to his native country.

Ms Baker set up a fundraising page yesterday and has already smashed her target of £800, receiving donations totalling about £4500 from more than 500 people.

She now hopes to track Michael down to give him the good news and has promised that the extra cash will be given to him as a "start up fund".

In a post online, she said: "He told me that all he wants more than anything in the world is to go back to Jamaica where he says he will be fine and happy again.

"I have promised this man that this time next year he will be back in Jamaica and that I will make it my personal mission to make it happen. Anyway, let's #getmichaelhome spread the love, thank you xxx."

She later wrote: "So touched by all your donations in such a short space of time. Thank you. Any additional money raised will be used as a start up fund for Michael once he gets back to Jamaica xx."

Ms Baker's appeal has received hundreds of messages of support on her fundraising page and from Twitter users.

Charlotte Brant wrote: "I'm so touched by this story.. well done Jenny and I'm so glad Michael can finally go home where he belongs. Makes you have faith in people.. X."

Phil Cooper posted: "Michael is going to have his socks blown off... This is amazing!".